[Gasification] Path from biomass to ethanol

[Mark Ludlow]

Neal,

This patent is an example of the difficulty of comminuting cellulose. MCC
(microcrystalline cellulose) sells for a few dollars per kg. Acid, working
on the ether bond between individual mers, is always an option for high
valued end uses but is useless for commodity applications.

Observe the involved process that Kraft mills go through, just to separate
hemicellulose and lignin from cellulose. And still the cellulose remains
crystallized; the reduction of wood into chips really only determines the
mean length of aggregated crystals. The useful mechanical properties of wood
are the result of its intransigence to physical transformation.

The answer to your question is no.

Mark

-----Original Message-----
From: gasification-bounces at listserv.repp.org
[mailto:gasification-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of CAVM at aol.com
Sent: Saturday, August 05, 2006 10:52 AM
To: gasification at listserv.repp.org
Subject: Re: [Gasification] Path from biomass to ethanol


_http://agproducts.unl.edu/mccpatent.htm_
(http://agproducts.unl.edu/mccpatent.htm) 
 
Does this technique help?
 
Neal
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
-------------------------------
Mark Ludlow wrote:
"Converting a crystalline, linear polysaccharide such as cellulose into
food that the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae can convert to ethanol and CO2
is tough. Even Ma Nature has not figured out this  problem"
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